Albert Wilson, 1894-12/11/1921. "a tub of boiling water"

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Albert Wilson, who while employed at the by-products works at Green Island on Monday fell into a tub of boiling water, died in the hospital yesterday afternoon. Deceased was a married man 30 years of ago. An inquest was opened this afternoon.  -Evening Star, 11/11/1921.

VALLEY TRUE BLUE LODGE. No. 11. P.A.F.S. OF A.

THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS of the above Lodge and Sister Lodges are requested to attend the Funeral of the late Bro. Albert Wilson, which will leave his father's (Mr D. Wilson) residence, 17 Cullen street, South Dunedin, on SATURDAY, 12th November, at 2.30 p.m.. for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery, Regalia. 

W. J. SUTHERLAND.  -Evening Star, 11/11/1921. 

DEATH THROUGH SCALDING

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., opened an inquiry at the Hospital yesterday into the death of Albert Wilson, of Green Island, who was admitted on Monday suffering from scalds caused by a fall into a tub of boiling water in Mr Peter Cameron’s works, where he was employed. 

Margaret Wilson, wife of deceased, said her husband was 27 years old, and lived in Westland street. He had been employed in Mr Peter Cameron’s by-product works at Green Island for eight or nine months. When he went to work last Monday he was in his usual health. He was a strong man and was not subject to fainting fits or anything of that sort. Deceased never told her how the accident happened. He did not discuss it at all. 

Dr Eva E. Day, junior house surgeon at Dunedin Hospital, said deceased was admitted about 4 o’clock on Monday afternoon, November 7. He was suffering from severe scalds and was considerably shocked. Dr Bilcliff attended him. Deceased was in great pain and very restless the first day, and the symptoms of shock increased. He was given the necessary treatment for shocked condition, and the scalds attended to. Later he showed signs of toxemia, which increased, until finally he collapsed. He died about 4.30 p.m. on November 10. The cause of death was toxemia, following extensive scalds.

The Coroner adjourned the inquest until next Thursday, when evidence will be taken regarding the accident.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/12/1921.

DEATH THROUGH SCALDS

INQUEST CONCLUDED

The inquiry into the death of Albert Wilson, of Green Island, who died at the Dunedin Hospital on November 10 as the result, of a fall into a tub of boiling water at Mr P. Cameron’s by-products works, was continued before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, at the Police Court this morning. Mr W. L. Moore appeared for the widow, and Mr Calvert for Mr P. Cameron. 

Frederick William Allum, works manager of the by-products works, Green Island, deposed that deceased on November 7 was working in the sausage casings department, and on going to that department witness heard a splash, and saw deceased in a tub of scalding water. He pulled him out and asked him how it happened, and deceased said something about a tub. Witness took deceased’s clothes off and covered him in oil. He obtained dry clothes, and rang up for the ambulance. The tub of boiling water was used for sausage casings. It was about 21in high, containing 15in of water, and rested on the floor. 

To Mr Moore: Deceased fell into the tub backwards, as he was scalded on the back.

To Mr Calvert: The tubs were provided with proper handles, and were out of the way against the wall; and the floor was perfectly clean, being of cement. 

James Charles Hooper, casing scraper, employed at the by-products works, said deceased was working near the hot water tub, and witness heard a moving of the tub and then a splash. He looked round and saw at the door Mr Alium. who rushed and pulled Wilson out of the tub. They look deceased's clothes off and applied oil. He did similar work to the deceased, and his hands had often slipped off the tubs. There was always a certain amount of grease present, and care had to be taken in handling the tubs.

To Mr Moore: Deceased was a hardworking man. His hands would not slip if the tubs were caught by the handles. He considered the working quite safe, but thought the water tub might be a bit higher. The floor around the tubs was always kept clean. Deceased's feet might have a solid grip, but his hands might not.

To Mr Calvert: They had a wafer tub previously which was 100 high, but he thought the present water tub was too low. 

The Coroner said that the evidence showed that death was accidental. Deceased was engaged in his duties about a tub of hot water, and accidently fell into it. The conditions of work seemed quite safe, but the suggestion of witness Hooper might be considered with regard to raising the height of the hot water tub. He found that the cause of death was toxaemia, following extensive scalds, caused by accidentally falling into a tub of hot, water at P. Cameron’s byproducts works, Green Island.  -Evening Star, 17/11/1921.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.